Public Safety Dispatcher I/II

Sutter County Human Resources • Yuba City, CA

13d • Onsite

About The Position

The Sutter County Sheriff's Department is currently seeking candidates for a Supervising Public Safety Dispatcher! This role involves receiving and transmitting emergency and routine voice radio messages, dispatching required equipment and personnel in accordance with established policies and procedures, and performing clerical support related to communication activities. There are two levels for this position: Public Safety Dispatcher I and Public Safety Dispatcher II, each with different salary ranges and experience requirements. The recruitment process includes application completion, a typing test, a POST Dispatcher exam, and oral interviews. Offers of employment are contingent upon a thorough background investigation, psychological evaluation, and other requirements.

Requirements

• Knowledge of modern office practices and procedures including filing and record keeping methods.
• Knowledge of clerical activities related to an organization's programs and operations.
• Knowledge of basic mathematics.
• Knowledge of standard office equipment.
• Knowledge of basic computer applications and techniques.
• Ability to learn policies and procedures utilized in dispatching units to emergencies.
• Ability to learn radio codes used in public safety work.
• Ability to learn local road system and geographical layout.
• Ability to operate radio equipment quickly and calmly in routine and emergency situations.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Ability to understand, retain, and transmit data while performing several functions at one time.
• Ability to analyze situations accurately and take effective action.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with department staff, various public agencies, the general public, and others contacted in the course of work.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to type at 30 words per minute.
• One year of experience performing general office duties or completion of high school, or any combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge, skills, and abilities (for Dispatcher I).
• One year of increasingly responsible experience performing duties assigned to the Public Safety Dispatcher I in Sutter County, or two years of experience which would demonstrate possession of the knowledge and abilities listed above, or any combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge, skills, and abilities (for Dispatcher II).
• Satisfactory completion of a thorough background investigation.
• Satisfactory completion of an evaluation of oral communication skills.
• Satisfactory completion of a preplacement medical examination.
• Must have normal hearing in both ears.
• Requires sufficient hand/eye coordination to perform semi-skilled repetitive movements, such as typing and data entry.
• Ability to operate communications equipment by performing multiple hand and foot functions simultaneously.
• Must remain calm in emergencies.
• Successful completion of a typing test at 30 W.P.M. (net).
• Successful participation in the POST Dispatcher exam.

Nice To Haves

• Candidates with enough prior experience to qualify at level II will not need to participate in written or oral panel exams.
• One dispatch sit-along is required prior to the hiring interview.
• P.O.S.T. certified 120-hour Basic Complaint/Dispatcher course within twelve months of the date of hire.

Responsibilities

• Receives and transmits emergency and routine voice radio messages.
• Dispatches required equipment and personnel in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Performs clerical support related to communication activities.
• Interprets and applies policies and procedures to emergency situations.
• Communicates effectively and coherently over radio channels while initiating and responding to radio communications.
• Prepares and maintains accurate reports and records.
• Performs clerical work of average difficulty.
• Operates communications equipment and standard office equipment.
• Operates a computer keyboard accurately and with appropriate speed.
• Utilizes various software programs relevant to the position.

Benefits

• New Public Safety Dispatcher I Employees will be hired at Step 1 ($24.59/HR) and will advance to Step 2 ($26.00/HR) upon completion of the FTO program (approx. 4 months after hire), then advance to Step 3 ($27.47/HR) 26 pay periods (approx. 1 year) after date of hire.
• At 18 months, and passing probation, employees may promote to Public Safety Dispatcher II, Step 3 ($30.35/HR).
• After that, they receive a yearly merit increase up to step 5, then every two years up to step 8.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED